UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY PRIZE

​In 2004, the association introduced a graduate and undergraduate essay competition. The undergraduate essay competition is open to all undergraduate students in Women's and Gender Studies courses. Essays are anonymously reviewed by a committee of approximately 3-5 people, and assessed using the following criteria:

Was a relevant argument set out in the paper? If so, was the argument fully developed throughout the paper?

Were other studies/reports/research referred to? In other words, was there a detailed analysis conducted on the issue?

Was this paper unique in some way? Was there any evidence of originality/creativity?

Was the writing style at an acceptable level? Were there any grammatical errors or spelling errors? Did the paper flow?

Did I learn something from reading this paper?

Was this paper relevant to Women’s and Gender Studies?

Winners receive a monetary prize of $100.00, a complimentary one-year membership to the association, and are invited to read their papers at the Awards ceremony during the annual conference. (Up to $500.00 is available to help defray travel costs). Honorable mention receives a monetary prize of $50.00

2011-12: Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

First Place Essay PrizeJamie Pitt, “Inescapable ‘Human Porosity’: Dis/ability, ‘Ethnicity’ and Language in Hélène Cixous’ The Day I Wasn’t Here." Memorial University of Newfoundland

Second Place Essay PrizeJennie Thompson, "The ‘Secret Sin’ of Victorian Men: The Masturbation and Spermatorrhea ‘Panic’ of Mid-to-Late Nineteenth-Century Britain." University of Prince Edward Island2010-11: University of New Brunswick, Frederticton, NB

First Place Essay PrizeSinéad Charbonneau, “Space, Power, and Difference: The Murder of Ariana May Simpson.” University of Victoria

Second Place Essay Prize:Tara Paterson, “Choice by any other name: The Abortion Art Controversy and the Limits of Liberalism.” University of Victoria

Honourable Mentions1) Ashley Pleasant, “Safe for Whom? The Politics of Safe Space at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival.” McMaster University

2) Shelagh Pizey-Allen, “Queering the Canadian Museum for Human Rights: Homonormativity, Settler Homonationalism, and the Erasure of Difference.” University of Winnipeg